An anvil assembly, an end effector, and/or a surgical stapler are suitable for performing curved or circular anastomosis and/or treatment to internal walls of hollow tissue organs. The anvil assembly includes an anvil center rod and an anvil head secured to a distal end of the anvil center rod. The anvil head includes an anvil plate defining a tissue contact surface and a plurality of staple forming pockets formed in the tissue contact surface of the anvil plate. Each of the staple forming pockets defines an arcuate longitudinal axis.

A surgical stapling system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system comprises a staple cartridge attachment portion, a first staple cartridge configured to be operably attached to the cartridge attachment portion, wherein the first cartridge comprises a plurality of first staples comprising first staple legs, and a second staple cartridge configured to be operably attached to the cartridge attachment portion in lieu of the first cartridge, wherein the second cartridge comprises a plurality of second staples comprising second staple legs, and wherein the second staples are different than the first staples. The system further comprises an anvil comprising a tissue-engaging surface and a plurality of forming pockets defined in the surface, wherein each pocket comprises a first landing zone configured to receive a leg of a first staple of the first cartridge and a second landing zone configured to receive a leg of a second staple of the second cartridge.

A fastener cartridge assembly for use with a surgical end effector. The fastener cartridge assembly can comprise a cartridge body having fastener cavities, fasteners removably positioned in the fastener cavities, a layer of material releasably secured relative to the cartridge body, a connector configured to secure the layer of material to the cartridge body at a location distal to at least one fastener cavity, and an actuator. The layer of material can be a tissue thickness compensator. When actuated, the actuator can overcome the connector, and can overcome the connector prior to the removal of the fasteners from the fastener cavities. The actuator can be actuated at a location proximal to at least one fastener cavity, and can extend distally past at least one fastener cavity toward the connector.

A surgical anvil assembly for use with a circular stapling instrument includes an anvil center rod defining a longitudinal axis and an anvil head pivotally coupled to the anvil center rod and movable between a first operative condition and a second tilted condition. The anvil assembly further includes a locking assembly configured to selectively lock the anvil head in each of the first and second conditions.

A surgical instrument can include an anvil and, in addition, a staple cartridge support configured to support a staple cartridge. In various embodiments, the jaw can be moved toward the staple cartridge to deform staples contained within the staple cartridge. The anvil can be configured to be translated and/or rotated as the anvil is moved toward the staple cartridge. In certain embodiments, the anvil can be configured to float and adjust such that the anvil is moved downwardly in a level manner.

A surgical instrument for treating the stomach tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical instrument comprises a handle comprising a display, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector extending from said shaft. The surgical system comprises a tissue treatment system configured to treat the stomach tissue along a path, an imaging system configured to capture a tissue image of the stomach tissue, and a controller configured to determine an edge of the stomach tissue, generate an image representing at least a portion of the edge of the stomach tissue, and display the image along with at least a portion of the tissue image on the display.

A surgical instrument comprising a firing drive and a bailout retraction system is disclosed.

A staple cartridge assembly for use with a surgical stapling instrument includes a staple cartridge including a plurality of staples and a cartridge deck. The staple cartridge assembly also includes a compressible adjunct positionable against the cartridge deck, wherein the staples are deployable into tissue captured against the compressible adjunct, and wherein the compressible adjunct comprises a first biocompatible layer comprising a first portion, a second biocompatible layer comprising a second portion, and crossed spacer fibers extending between the first portion and the second portion.

A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened.

A staple cartridge for use with a stapling end effector selectively oriented between an open position and a closed position is disclosed. The stapling end effector comprises an anvil. The staple cartridge comprises a cartridge body, a first staple, a second staple, a first staple driver, and a second staple driver. The first staple driver comprises a first staple support portion configured to support the first staple. A first staple forming distance is defined between the anvil and the first staple support portion when the end effector is in the closed position. The second staple driver comprises a second staple support portion configured to support the second staple. A second staple forming distance is defined between the anvil and the second staple support portion when the end effector is in the closed position. The first staple forming distance and the second staple forming distance are different.